Angina
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Causes of angina
Angina is a physical symptom of coronary artery disease, the most common type of heart disease.
Angina means chest pain, and it’s a warning sign that the heart is under stress. It happens when the heart muscle doesn’t get enough blood and oxygen to work properly because its arteries are:
- blocked
- too narrow
An artery of the heart can close due to plaque that has built up over time. Plaque is made of:
- fats
- calcium
- cholesterol
This build-up of plaque is known as a hardening of the arteries. It’s what usually causes angina. The plaque may eventually severely block the artery. This can cause death to the tissue that gets blood from the artery, which can lead to heart attack or stroke.
Angina may follow a regular pattern. This is called stable angina. Sometimes, stress or physical activity can trigger angina pain.
Unfortunately, at other times, angina is harder to figure out. This is called unstable angina, and the pain can happen any time, even when you’re asleep.
Learn more:
Symptoms of angina
Angina symptoms can vary between males and females, and by the type of angina you have.
The main symptoms of angina include:
- numbness or lack of feeling in your:
- arms
- wrists
- shoulders
- shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- sharp, burning or cramping pain in your chest
- a constant feeling of indigestion that is moderate to severe
- a dull pain that begins in the middle of your chest and spreads to your:
- jaw
- neck
- back
- throat
- left arm
- a feeling of tightness, pressure, squeezing or aching in your chest or arms
Females may describe angina symptoms differently than males. They are more likely to experience:
- vague pain in the centre of the chest
- pain in the neck or tightness in the throat
- the feeling of a panic attack or anxiety
- dizziness or fainting
- sweating at night
- fatigue
You may experience these symptoms after physical exertion or emotional stress.
If you have chest pain or tightness
Angina and a heart attack can feel similar. Act quickly if you or someone else has chest pain or tightness. You should:
- take your prescribed medication if your health care provider is already treating you for angina
- if the medication doesn’t make you feel better quickly, call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number
- call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number if you’re not being treated for angina and still have chest pain
- do this right away, even if the chest pain doesn’t flow to your arms or jaw
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Treating angina
Sometimes, stress or physical activity can trigger angina pain. Stopping the activity or using certain medication can usually control this kind of heart condition.
Preventing angina
There are many different ways to reduce your risk of getting angina and other heart-related conditions. These include:
- eating a variety of healthy foods
- being physically active regularly
- maintaining a healthy weight
- quitting (or not starting) smoking
- managing stress
- limiting alcohol use
- regularly monitoring your blood pressure
Most physical activity is safe and accessible for everyone. However, physical activity can sometimes trigger angina pain.
It’s best to check with a health care provider before starting any new forms of physical activity if you have:
- any chronic diseases or conditions that may affect your ability to be physically active
- past injuries or have had a concussion
- a history of dizziness or unsteadiness
They can advise you on the best activities based on your age, health, fitness and skill levels. This way, you can stay safe while being active.
To ensure that you have a safe physical activity experience, there’s a questionnaire you can take that can direct you toward a qualified exercise professional.
Get active questionnaire (PDF)
Learn more:
- Risk factors for heart disease
- Guidance for preventing heart disease
- How to monitor your blood pressure (Hypertension Canada)
Risks of angina
Angina is a warning signal that you’re at increased risk of:
- a heart attack
- cardiac arrest, which is when blood suddenly stops circulating effectively in your body due to heart failure
- sudden cardiac death, which is a sudden death due to heart failure
Who is most at risk
Angina can happen if one or more of the heart's arteries gets blocked or is too narrow. The narrowing of an artery is common as you get older. Narrowing can happen earlier if you:
- smoke
- live with diabetes
- live with high cholesterol
- live with high blood pressure (hypertension)
Learn more:
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol
- Tobacco and stroke
- Tobacco and heart disease
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Health effects of smoking and second-hand smoke